[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED BELOW]

Hospitals, nursing homes and senior facilities in low-lying areas in New York City evacuated thousands of patients Friday after Mayor Michael Bloomberg mandated the move in preparation for Hurricane Irene.

Facilities including Brooklyn�s Menorah Home & Hospital for Aged & Infirm and the Palm Beach Home for Adults, Queens�s Oceanview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Staten Island University�s two campus hospitals shuttled patients to alternative venues such as Long Island College Hospital and Kings County Hospital Center.

Inpatient evacuation at Coney Island Hospital began Friday at 8 a.m. and was expected to finish by 8 p.m., with more than 200 patients dispersed to five other hospitals around Brooklyn and one in Queens.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos by Shimon Gifter.

To watch video from a mobile device, click HERE.

(YWN Desk – NYC)